You can't win them all, but there are some games
you should win. After their week long break, the Sharks got back to work on
Saturday night and used a slow and steady approach to beating the Vancouver
Canucks at Rogers Arena in British Columbia. The undermanned Canucks had to
rely on several prospects after a mumps outbreak affected several players,
putting up a decent fight, before succumbing to their guests from the south
4-1.

San Jose had to shake off the cob webs early in the game after
last playing on Sunday. Vancouver out-shot the Sharks 14-8 in a scoreless 1st
period as the Sharks tried to acclimate themselves to the ice. Both teams
traded shots through the first 12 minutes of the game before the Canucks pulled
away on the shot counter to close out the period.

Tomas Hertl opened
the game's scoring 3:31 into the 2nd period on a put back after Joel Ward raced
up ice and tried pushing a puck past Canucks goaltender Ryan Miller. Miller
made the initial stop on Ward, but the puck trickled through the goaltender's
pads, sliding wide of the left post. Chris Tierney stabbed at the loose puck,
pushing it to the front of the unattended goal, where Hertl swept it home.

Daniel Sedin tied the game 9 minutes later, depositing a pass from
brother Henrik past MArtin jones from the left circle. Brent Burns tried
clearing the Sharks zone with a backhanded try, but Henrik Sedin snatched the
puck out of the air before slipping to his brother on the left side.

Things got testy 2 minutes later when Canucks prospect Joseph Labate hit Melker
Karlsson with a check as the Sharks forward skated in front of the Canucks
bench. Karlsson's head snapped sideways on the momentum of the hit before he
crumpled to the ice.

Michel Haley went after Labate, which drew a
rouging penalty that resulted in a Canucks power play. San Jose defused the
situation by killing the penalty, the first of two Canucks power plays.

Brendan Dillon made sure Labate understood that his action would not
be tolerated by engaging in a fight in the 3rd period. Dillon landed a pair of
uppercuts, which undoubtedly conveyed the message.

Patrick Marleau continued his torrid pace by scoring
his 22nd goal of the season with 56 seconds left in the period. Marleau took a
backdoor pass from David Schlemko as he skated out of the right corner and
jammed a puck home from outside the right post for his 503rd career goal.
Schlemko may have been targeting Mikkel Boedker, who was parked at the top of
the crease, but the puck sailed past him, right to Marleau.

San Jose
added a pair of 3rd period goals to ice the game. Boeker pushed the Sharks lead
to 3-1 with a pretty goal 11:31 into the final frame. The much maligned forward
converted from the right side after flying in on net and lifting a shot past
Miller for his 7th goal of the season.

Log Couture added a power play
goal on the Sharks lone man advantage situation of the night. Couture took a
Brent Burns pass and found a crack between Miller and the left post for the 4-1
lead.